How does the story demonstrate the failure of institutional politics?

One of the most compelling aspects of Animal Farm is how the novel articulates the need for authentic change. In his own life, Orwell saw how politics and government tend to corrupt those in positions of power. The novel shows us that government and institutions cannot be relied upon as agents of change. Though the pigs promise change and seek to be a transformative force on the farm, they end up being no different than the humans; the status quo does not change.

Orwell writes Animal Farm as an outsider to the political establishment. In many ways, he is Benjamin, a cynic who recognizes that nothing is really going to change. However, Orwell offers a warning that cynicism does little to impact real and substantive change. This is evident when Benjamin attempts to save Boxer and finds that his actions are too little, too late.

Animal Farm serves as a critical lesson for those pursuing change. Individuals must work for change from the outside and prevent the trappings of power from tainting their efforts. In Orwell's world, institutional politics are easily corrupted. It is up to the outsider to continually rally for social change in the hopes of transforming political and economic institutions. We still struggle with "insiders" who wield power against the disenfranchised, making the message of Animal Farm just as relevant today as it was during its original publication.

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